Category: Devotions

True faith is visibly seen by good works and spiritual fruit. It is a religion of the heart, a pure heart of piety toward God and men. The bible character Ruth was such an example. She was a Moabitess who left her homeland to follow Israel’s God by following her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel. God’s commendation of Ruth’s faith came through Boaz’s words in Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. God counted her an Israelite in heart although she was outwardly a gentile.

The Jews were circumcised because God commanded it. They were a people set apart for God. The outward sign of the circumcision sets them apart as a people who practice God’s law. But if they failed to obey God in their daily living then the outward sign of circumcision will not make them a “true blue” Jew. Likewise the professing Christian who do not obey God’s law from the heart is not a “true blue” Christian. It is better than he be not called a Christian than to profess being a Christian and not live as a Christian.

David had to pay for the consequences of his sin. Old Testament law teaches that a person steal something and does not return, he is to pay back fourfold. God reserved fourfold judgment on David and his family. It was a heavy price to pay. And it must have caused much discouragement to the people in Israel to see their leader fall in shame and disgrace. It must cause us to shudder at the thought of failing our Lord – 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Amen.

God has no other plan to raise another holy nation beside His church and His people, Israel! Both the church and the nation of Israel will God use to evanglise the world as bible prophecy tells us. In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ tells His church that they are to be salt and light in the world – Matthew 5:13-17 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Man will be judged according to their deeds in the day of God’s judgement. And his conscience would tell him honestly that he is guilty. He had done wrong. Indeed, only those whose names are written in the book of life shall escape being cast into the lake of fire. And the gentiles cannot plead ignorance of their sins before God. What a powerful presentation of the truth which the Apostle Paul is building up to help them realise the preciousness of the gospel that he would present to them. The gospel message that Jesus Christ died for our sins and three days later rose from the dead for our justification. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

It is interesting, Apostle Paul observed, God made man with a conscience that is able to judge his own actions by the law which God placed in his heart. He knows good from evil, right from wrong, having a moral conscience within him. If he does wrong, his conscience gives him no peace. And if he is right, he knows there is no rebuke against him. It is a faculty of self-reflection and self-judgement that God places in man that enables him to evaluate himself honestly.

How is that possible? Because God made man in His very image – Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Before I became a Christian, I found myself lacking, deficient, but could not tell what was lacking! Observe how the Apostle Paul is preparing to present the gospel to the unsaved by revealing what God has marvellously done to create man with a God-given conscience. He presents to us the intimate and endearing place we have in the sight of our Creator God.

What Paul is saying is that even though a person may not know God’s law, he will nevertheless be judged by it. Even if he transgressed God’s law unknowingly, he is guilty of sinning before God. He is still culpable! But Paul is bringing a greater indictment against those who know the law of God and wilfully disobeys it. He distinguished between the hearers of the law in verse 13 with the doers of the law. Only the doers of the law would find favour in the sight of God. The hearer who has a head knowledge of the truth and is not convicted to obey it will face God’s judgement.

Our God is an impartial Judge. He is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His justice. He judges fairly and correctly. There is no misjudgement with God. He renders to every man according to his deeds. We cannot escape the All-seeing eyes of God. All who live in righteousness will receive from Him a righteous man’s reward. All who live an evil life, obey not the truth, will receive God’s judgement – tribulation and anguish!

God is good to allow time for sinners to repent of their sins by delaying His judgement. When a man sins without restrain and think that he can get away with sin time and again, he is hereby warned. Judgement will surely come. God has withheld judgement so that he may have the opportunity to be awakened of his grave danger and quickly repent!

Truly, Jesus gave the Christian disposition as one who has a poverty of spirit and one who mourns for his sins. This is the beginning of salvation grace when men is willing to humble themselves and repent of their sins and come to Jesus Christ for cleansing. There is only one way that man can have their sins forgiven. In the blood of the Lamb!